5 Ways to Feel Super-Optimistic (Mercer)

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"5 Ways to Feel Super-Optimistic" -- By Mercer, Ph.D. **----------------------------------------------------Optimism is the hidden key to your personal and business success.Optimists possess a clear vision of an exciting life, confidently work ongoals to achieve their vision, and take self-responsibility. In contrast,pessimists have no clear vision of a fantastic life, and they love tocomplain, blame, and moan. How can you become more optimistic?I will divulge five little-known "secrets" to help you immediately feelupbeat, confident, and optimistic.Research: Why Optimism Is Good for YouTons of research prove that optimists do vastly better than pessimists intheir:1. Health2. Wealth3. Career successHealth.A

growing body of "psychoneuroimmunology" medical research links how aperson's emotions affect his or her health. Some intriguing findings:Optimistic people are less likely to get sick than pessimistic ordepressed people. This includes illnesses ranging from common colds tocancer. Optimistic people also get well faster than pessimists.Wealth. A fascinating study found that self-made millionaires worry much less thanpeople who earn as much money but have not achieved millionaire status.What is the connection between being optimistic and making yourself into amillionaire? Optimists are much more likely than pessimists to make a goalof achieving millionaire status. They also keep plugging away at beingfrugal, investing wisely and working hard to turn financial dreams intoreality. In contrast, pessimists are less likely to set net-worth goals orconsistently take actions to become millionaires.Career Success.

Many companies use my firm's Abilities & Behavior Forecaster's pre-employment tests when choosing applicants. To start, a company hashigh-achievers take the test. Also, underachievers may take the test.Then, we identify how the high-achievers score, so the company can preferhiring applicants who score like its profitable, productive employees.Intriguing finding: One of the Forecaster's test's 18 scales is Optimism.Typically, high-achievers typically score high on the Optimism test scale,while underachievers score moderate or low on Optimism. This repeatedfinding verifies that optimists achieve greater career success than pessimists.So, how can you boost your optimism to achieve greater health, wealth, andcareer success? Here are five immediately useful techniques. Each takes only one minute to do, so you can start fast and get results today.1st Technique: Straight Posture and Big StepsOptimistic people use

straight posture, walk fast, and take big steps.Pessimistic people slouch, walk slowly, and use small steps. Imagineseeing someone walking with his or her head held high, shoulders back,walking fairly fast with big steps. That person exudes confidence. Incontrast, a person whose head and shoulders slouch and walks with slow, small steps reeks a gloomy mood.Why is a straight posture crucial? Because before you can straighten outyour head, you first need to straighten up your body!2nd Technique: Cheerful VoiceA lightning quick way to feel upbeat is to use a cheerful voice. Think ofa time when you felt annoyed. Then, your phone rang. You answered it, andyour caller was someone you wanted to impress. I bet you spoke in acheerful voice so you would impress your caller. Result: You immediately started feeling your mood lift.Why is a cheerful voice an incredibly powerful optimism tool?Psychological research

proved that a person emotionally feels the emotion he or she is acting at the moment. So, if you act cheerful, you feel cheerful. And a cheerful voice is the fastest way to act optimistic.3rd Technique: Use Upbeat WordsYou can use types of words: upsetting and upbeat. Pessimists relish using upsetting words, while optimists excel at using upbeat words. Examples:Upsetting Words, Upbeat WordsProblem, OpportunityTired, RechargingDepressed, BummingFor example, a pessimist says, "I have a problem." In contrast, anoptimist would say, "I have an opportunity to do better next time!"4th Technique: Use Upbeat AttitudesI find the chief way to become an optimist simply is to focus on "solutions" and not focus on problems. Every time a difficulty pops up, immediately create solutions and put them into action. Examples:Upsetting Attitudes, Upbeat AttitudesFocus on problems, Focus on solutionsDwelling on

weaknesses, Dwelling on strengthsThinking about financial woes, Thinking about achieving prosperityWhy is a solution-focus ultra-important? Because you can only have onethought in your head at a time. So, if you focus on solutions, you cannotwallow in problems, complaining, blaming, or moaning.5th Technique: Be a Magnificent Role Model Remember a time you were a role model for someone. As you helped that person, you also helped yourself. As the proverb goes: "What goes around,comes around." If you are a delightfully optimistic role model for employees, co-workers, family and friends, then you simultaneously make yourself optimistic.How do you do this? Make sure people see you using straight posture,taking big steps, speaking in a cheerful voice, using upbeat words and focusing on solutions.Anyone can become an optimist. When people use these five techniques, theyinvariably tell me they feel heavy burdens lift

off their shoulders. Theyfeel positive, upbeat, and confident. You only need a few minutes to put these tips into action. They can be your key to enhanced health, wealth, and career success.© Copyright 2004 Mercer, Ph.D.About the Author Mercer, Ph.D., is a consultant, speaker, and founder of The MercerGroup, Inc. in Barrington, Illinois. He delivers speeches and seminars atconferences and companies. Dr. Mercer's Forecasters pre-employment testsare used by companies across North America. He co-authored "Spontaneous Optimism: Proven Strategies for Health, Prosperity & Happiness" and also"Hire the Best -- & Avoid the Rest". You can get a FREE subscription tohis e-Newsletter at http://www.DrMercer.com or call him at . http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AffirmationstoDe-Stress A positive thinking, positive affirmations support group, that empowers us with ways to sail through daily life stress. Come aboard! PJ and Gang